As the nation marks Indigenous Peoples Month this October, a lawmaker from the House of Representatives appealed to government authorities to halt the practice of red-tagging members and leaders of indigenous communities across the country.
Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos, who serves as vice chair of the House Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples, warned that labeling indigenous leaders as state enemies undermines their safety and distracts from addressing their real concerns.
“Red tags are lazy and dismissive. Hindi lang ito banta sa buhay at seguridad ng mga isinasangkot, kundi nagiging paraan na lang para walisin ang mga isyu at ilihis ang atensyon sa tunay na kalagayan ng mga IP at kanilang mga komunidad,” Bernos said. (It is not only a threat to the life and security of those involved, but it also becomes a convenient way to sweep issues aside and divert attention from the real condition of IPs and their communities.)
Rather than resorting to red-tagging, the lawmaker urged government bodies to engage in constructive dialogue with indigenous cultural communities, particularly when development projects face opposition from local residents affected by proposed developments.
Bernos called for the full implementation and strict enforcement of protective legislation, specifically pointing to Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997.
“Huwag nating balewalain ang mga probisyon tungkol sa karapatan nila sa kanilang ancestral domain at maging ang pagkakaroon ng representasyon sa pamahalaan,” Bernos emphasized. (Let us not disregard the legal provisions concerning their rights to their ancestral domains as well as their right to representation in government.)